Characterization of patients with extensive left atrial myopathy referred for atrial fibrillation ablation: incidence, predictors, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Although atrial fibrosis has a relevant impact on ablation success rate, experimental studies have reported that extensive fibrosis may be accompanied by a reduced burden secondary to a prominent depression of atrial excitability. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify clinical and echocardiographic factors associated with extensive left atrial myopathy (ELAM), to analyze the predictive ability of established scores (AF score, APPLE, and DR-FLASH) and assess outcomes in terms of AF recurrence, left atrial flutter, and post-procedural heart failure admissions. METHODS: A total of 950 consecutive patients undergoing the first AF ablation were included. A 3D electroanatomical mapping system (CARTO3, Biosense Webster) was created using a multipolar mapping catheter (PentaRay, Biosense Webster). ELAM was defined as ≥ 50% low voltage area. A subanalysis with four groups was also created (< 10%; 10-20%; 10-20%; and > 30%). Logistic regressions, Cox proportional hazards models, and log-rank test were used to test the predictors independently associated with the presence of ELAM and AF recurrence. The model was prospectively validated in a cohort of 150 patients obtaining an excellent ability for prediction AUC 0.90 (CI 95% 0.84-0.96). RESULTS: Overall, 78 (8.42%) presented ELAM. Age, female sex, persistent AF, first-degree AV block, and E/e' were significant predictors. The model incorporating these factors outperformed the existing scores (AUC = 0.87). During a mean follow-up of 20 months (IQR 9 to 36), patients with ELAM presented a higher rate of AF recurrence (42.02% vs 26.01%, p = 0.030), left atrial flutter (26.03% vs 8.02%, p < 0.001), and post-procedural heart failure admissions (12.01% vs 0.61%, p < 0.001) than non-ELAM patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the incidence and clinical factors associated with ELAM in AF, highlighting age, female, persistent AF, first-degree AV block, and E/e'. Importantly, the presence of ELAM is associated with poorer outcomes in terms of recurrence and HF admission.

Impact of initiation of SGLT2 inhibitor treatment on the development of arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardiac devices.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been associated with improved prognosis in patients with heart failure, but their impact on atrial arrhythmic (AA) and ventricular arrhythmic (VA) events is not fully understood. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study included patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators who initiated treatment with SGLT2i. AA and VA events were compared in 2 time periods for each patient: 1 year before and 1 year after starting SGLT2i. RESULTS: The study included 195 patients (66.8 [61.3-73.1] years, 18.5% women). In the post-SGLT2i period, there was a reduction in the percentage of patients with any VA (pre: 52.3% vs post: 30.3%; P<.001) and clinically relevant VA (excluding nonsustained ventricular tachycardia) (pre: 21.5% vs post: 8.7%; P<.001). There was also a decrease in the number of episodes per patient/y of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (pre: 2 (1-5) vs post: 1 (0-2); P<.001) and sustained ventricular tachycardia (pre: 1 (1-3) vs post: 0 (0-2); P=0.046). However, no differences were observed in the prevalence of AA (24.7% vs 18.8%; P=.117) or the burden of atrial fibrillation (pre: 0% (0-0.1) vs post: 0% (0-0); P=.097). CONCLUSIONS: Initiation of SGLT2i treatment was associated with a decrease in the percentage of patients with relevant VA but this effect was not observed for AA.

Atrial fibrillation ablation in patients with arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy: a prospective multicentre study.

AIMS: This study aims to investigate the clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) referred for ablation who develop arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy (AiCM) as well as their long-term outcomes after catheter ablation (CA). METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective multicentre study was conducted on consecutive AF patients who underwent CA. AiCM was defined as the development of heart failure in the presence of AF and an improvement of left ventricular fraction by at least 10% at 6 months after ablation. A subgroup of patients underwent peripheral and left atrial blood samples [galectin-3, fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE)] at the time of the procedure. Of the 769 patients who underwent AF ablation, 135 (17.56%) met the criteria for AiCM. Independent predictors of AiCM included persistent AF, male gender, left atrial volume, QRS width, active smoking, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Biomarker analysis revealed that sRAGE, FABP4, and galectin-3 levels were not predictive of AiCM development nor did they differ between groups or predict recurrence. There were no differences in AF recurrence between patients with and without AiCM (30.83% vs. 27.77%; P = 0.392) during a median follow-up of 23.83 months (inter-quartile range 9-36). CONCLUSIONS: In the subset of patients referred for AF ablation, the development of AiCM was associated with persistent AF and CKD. Biomarker analysis was not different between groups nor predicted recurrence. Patients with AiCM benefited from ablation, with a significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and similar AF recurrence rates to those without AiCM.

The role of subtraction angiography in the diagnosis of distal aorta occlusion following CT urography: A case report.

Distal aortic occlusion is rare; and because many cases are left undetected due to an asymptomatic early stage, its prevalence is currently unknown. In this report, we present a case of a 53-year-old man with history of hypertension and tobacco usage who was referred to our ambulatory imaging center for advanced computerized tomography (CT) urography evaluation after presenting abdominal pain consistent with renal calculi. The CT urography showed left kidney stones - confirming the initial clinical suspicion of the referring physician. As incidental findings, the CT also revealed occlusion of the distal aorta, the common iliac arteries, and the proximal external iliac arteries. Based on these findings, we performed an angiography procedure that confirmed the total occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta at the level of the inferior mesenteric artery. At this level, multiple collaterals and anastomosis with pelvic vessels were found. The therapeutic intervention without the angiography results could have been not optimal based on the CT urography alone. Thus, this case highlights the value of the subtraction angiography for accurate diagnosis of distal aortic occlusion following a suspicious incidental finding in CT urography.

Ulnar dimelia and a rare variant ulnar trimelia: Case reports.

Ulnar dimelia is an infrequent congenital anomaly of the upper limb characterized by the duplication of the ulna, absence of the radial ray, and polydactyly. We report on 2 cases of young girls with upper limb abnormalities who were brought to our Advanced Imaging Department for specialized imaging evaluation. The first case is a 15-month-old girl with a typical manifestation of ulnar dimelia. X-ray images of her right forearm and hand showed 2 ulnar-like bones, absence of the radial ray, and post-axial polydactyly. Our second case is a 7-year-old girl with evident limited pronosupination and shortening of the left forearm. Findings from computed tomography evaluation included ulnar duplication, one of which had a bifid aspect, with characteristics that are similar to ulnar proximal and distal epiphysis. The latter case which, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported in the literature, is a rare variant of ulnar dimelia, that we have called ulnar trimelia . In this contribution, we emphasize the importance of an adequate diagnostic imaging approach for accurate recognition of upper limb anomalies, so that the treatment selection is appropriate to achieve better health outcomes and improve patients' quality of life. Our descriptions and images presented in this contribution form the basis for further research.

High triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol ratio as a biochemical marker of severe outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with severe complications have shown comorbidities with cardiovascular-disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus; clinical disorders that share the common metabolic alterations of insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. A high triglyceride to high density lipoprotein cholesterol (Tg/HDL c) ratio has been associated with reduced insulin sensitivity, metabolic syndrome and adverse cardiovascular events. Our aim in this study was to determine the association between different components of the lipid profile and particularly the Tg/HDL c ratio with severe complications like the requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: We collected demographic, clinical and biochemical data to conduct a cohort study in 43 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) at baseline and in the subsequent 15 days. Patients were subjected to a very similar treatment scheme with the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib. Descriptive statistics, variable association and logistic regression were applied to identify predictors of disease severity among elements and calculations from the lipid profile. RESULTS: Patients were aged 57 ± 14 years; 55.8% were male from which 75% required hospitalization and 44.2% were female who 58% were hospitalized. The most common comorbidities were type 2 diabetes mellitus (58%) and hypertension (40%). Hospitalized and critical care patients showed lower HDL c blood levels and increased Tg/HDL c ratio than those with outpatient management and mild/asymptomatic COVID-19. Tg/HDL c ratio correlated with variables of disease severity such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (r = 0.356; p < 0.05); National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS 2) (r = 0.495; p < 0.01); quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) (r = 0.538; p < 0.001); increased need of oxygen support (r = 0.447; p < 0.01) and requirement of mechanical ventilation (r = 0.378; p < 0.05). Tg/HDL c ratio had a negative correlation with partial oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen (SaO 2/FiO2) ratio (r = -0.332;p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that Tg/HDL c ratio can predict increases in inflammatory factors like LDH (p < 0.01); ferritin (p < 0.01) and D-dimer (p < 0.001). Logistic regression model indicated that ≥7.45 Tg/HDL c ratio predicts requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 11.815, CI 1.832-76.186, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The Tg/HDLc ratio can be used as an early biochemical marker of COVID-19 severe prognosis with requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation.

Salud sexual en mujeres con cáncer de mama tratadas con Tamoxifeno / Sexual health in women with breast cancer treated with Tamoxifen

El cáncer de mama puede alterar ciertos componentes de la función sexual debidos a la enfermedad y los tratamientos empleados en su abordaje. OBJETIVO: Analizar si las pacientes con cáncer de mama en tratamiento con Tamoxifeno presentan disfunción sexual. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal, observacional para detectar disfunción sexual en pacientes con cáncer de mama en tratamiento con Tamoxifeno y comparar los resultados con población general. Se han analizado los casos de cáncer de mama diagnosticados en el Hospital Virgen de la Luz de abril de 2015 a abril 2016, seleccionando mujeres en tratamiento con Tamoxifeno, menores de 50 años y sexualmente activas, aplicándoseles un cuestionario de salud sexual, posteriormente se compararon los resultados obtenidos con un estudio realizado en población general. RESULTADOS: Se diagnosticaron 130 cánceres de mama en dicho periodo, siendo 34 susceptibles de estudio (26,15 %). Participaron 7 pacientes (20.6%), con edad media de 42,7 años (35-50) y pareja estable en el 85,7%. Se han objetivado trastornos moderados del deseo sexual en un 28,6% y de excitación en 14,28%, así como ausencia de iniciativa sexual en un 42,86%, trastorno de la lubricación vaginal en un 28,6% y problemas para la penetración vaginal en un 14,3 %, pero globalmente están satisfechas con su actividad sexual. Comparando con población general, llama la atención que un 14,2 % de éstas últimas muestra algún grado de insatisfacción sexual. CONCLUSIONES: No hay diferencias significativas en cuanto a disfunción sexual, aunque puede haber mayor ansiedad anticipatoria y disfunción del deseo sexual y lubricación vaginal en el grupo de Tamoxifeno, que probablemente no alcanzan la significación estadística por el tamaño muestral

Breast cancer can alter certain components of sexual function due to the disease and the treatments used. OBJECTIVE: To analyze if patients with breast cancer treated with Tamoxifen have sexual dysfuntion. METHOD: Cross-sectional, observational study to detect sexual dysfunction in patients with breast cancer with Tamoxifen treatment and compare it with general population. The cases of breast cancer at Virgen de La Luz Hospital from April 2015 to April 2016 have been analyzed, selecting women in treatment with tamoxifen, under 50 years and sexually active, applying a sexual health questionnarie and comparing them with general population. RESULTS: 130 breast cancers were diagnosed, 34 were susceptible to study (26,15%). Seven patients (20,6%) participated, with a mean age of 42,7 years (35-50) and stable partner in 85,7%. Moderate disorders of sexual desire have been observed in 28,6% and in arousal in 14,28%, as well as lack of sexual initiative in 42,86%, disorder of vaginal lubrication in 28,6% and problems with vaginal penetration in 14,3%, but overall they are satisfied with their sexual activity. Comparing with general population, it's striking that 14,2% of the last show some degree of sexual insatisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences regarding sexual dysfunction, although there may be greater anticipatory anxiety, sexual desire dysfunction and vaginal lubrication in the Tamoxifen group, which probably do not reach statistical significance due to sample size